Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN A. SMITH, JR, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,687, dated October 29, 1889. Application filed June 8 1886. Serial No. 167,925- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Button-Fasteners, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to providea button-fastener of new and improved construction, wherein the main portion orbody consists of a top and inclined sides, which are adapted to receive the sh ank-eye of a button and to permit free movement of the same thereon after the fastener has been secured to the fabric, the said fastener being provided with two parallel holding-prongs, which depend from the inclined sides and which are adapted to be forced into the material to which the fastener is to be secured and be clinched to the under side thereof, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 shows my improved button-fastener as applied to hold a button to the fabric; Fig. 2, an elevation of the fastener as cut from sheet metal, and Fig. 3 a similar View thereof as formed of wire.

In carrying out my invention I cut the fastener from astrip of sheet metal or form it of wire of required size, to provide a top d, two inclined sides e, and twosubstantially parallel prongs f, which latter are sharpened at their ends to enable them to be readily forced into the fabric to which they are to be secured.

The top and inclined sides form the main or body portion of the fastener, while the angles at the junction of the prongs with said body portion serve to limit the penetration of said prongs into the material, and form, in

effect, bearing-shoulders. These shoulders are essential to provide for the complete penetration of the prongs through the material before they begin to curl or bend in clinching, and thereby prevent them from puckerin g or bunching the material found between said prongs, more especially in regard to thin material. The inclined sides serve as bearings for the upper jaw of a setting-instrument, made for the purpose, to receive the pressure of same and cause the prongs to penetrate the material withmore ease and certainty, for the reason that said pressure is brought more directly over the prongs, which is not the case with the common form of staple-fastener.

In other forms of staple-like or two-pronged fasteners, having no determinate angles of the kind shown and designated, the prongs begin to curl or bend, and thereby pucker or bunch the intermediate material before said prongs are forced completely through the same.

I claim- The button-fastener herein described, the

same consisting of an angular crown or arch,

for the reception of the eye of a button, and

two parallel attaching-prongs having sharpened or attenuated points, said prongs being formed one at each end of said crown or arch ing of substantially uniform size above the attenuated points as said crown or arch, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J R.

Witnesses:

STUZWIN SQUETT, WILLIAM HoYT,

Both of 46 Queen Victoria Street, London.

,70 and projecting downward therefrom, and be-'- 

